Beanie level: Noble idiot

#2024 ROUND UP: DAY 4
Scene stealer Im Chul Soo be it the fashionista kitty gang leader or the ex con dad with his immense love for his wife and kids, Im Chul soo always hits it out of the park.
Honarable mention- the Deer gang from MSM

#2024 ROUND UP: DAY 5 2024 Crush – this is easy, the first couple I have shipped so hard in my 14 years of drama watching #SolSunjae #WooHye – Kim Hye Yoon snd Byeon Woo Seok. Never thought I would spend 6 mths of my life obsessed with a kdrama couple 🤣🤣

#2024 ROUND UP: DAY 6 Favorite OST – Lovely Runner and the fictional Band,Eclipse totally have my heart. Fav song was You and I
Honorable mentions- Serendipity’s Embrace soundtrack, Oldie but an absolute favourite Mido and Falasol covers Hospital Playlist

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#2024 ROUND UP: DAY 3
Favorite ML Biased answer- Uhm Tae Goo thanks to MSM for bringing this amazingly talented actor to small screen. If you havnt watched it go watch Punch Drunk boxer and Night in paradise. He is brilliant! Also his collar bones is to die for😍
Honarable mentions- Ju Ji Hoon (Blood Free and Love your Enemy) for veing amazing in comedy and serious roles and Lee,Yi Kyung, Yoon Park for always being amazing scene stealer
Special mention- Byeon Woo Seok – Ryu Sunjae for life!

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#2024 ROUND UP: DAY 2
Favorite FL Biased answer- Kim Hye Yoon- made me fall in love with her 19, 20 and 34yr old Sol.
Unbiased it’s a tie between Jang Nara and Honey Lee both hardcarried their shows and were so nuanced in their potrayal.
Honourable mentions- Shin Mina nd Park Shin Hye.

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    Your post made me realize we were really spoiled for choice weren’t we. 😂

    My emotional answer too is Kim Hye-yoon in every timeline. 😊❤

    Your other picks are also great. Both Jang Nara and Lee Hanee are long-time favorites and even if the drama doesn’t really support them usually find a way to come out on the top. Both Good Partner and Knight Flower were lucky to have them. “Hardcarried” indeed!! 👌🏻💪🏻✊🏻👏🏻

    Shin Min-a is my emotional choice as well. Never not awesome. 😘 A gumiho I nomu nomu nomu chuaye irrespective of the drama.

    Park Shin-hye was a surprise both in Doctor Slump and The Judge From Hell. It was her year. ❤

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      We seem to have the same choice in actors. These women are so amazingly talented!!

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#2024 Drama Roundup
Day 1 – favourite drama
#1 Lovely Runner- no it wasn’t perfect, but I credit the drama for bringing me back into the world of Kdramas. The leads with their insane chemistry,heartfelt story telling reminded me of how I first felt when I started on my kdrama journey a decade ago. So thank you Lovely Runner
#2 A Judge from Hell excellent engaing writing!
#3 A Shop for Killers & Flex x Cop both underrated but so much fun!!

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The poster has me so excited, looking forward to a middle age romance😉😉❤️

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As a long-time fan, watching their breakout this year makes me so happy 🥰🥰

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A Virtuous Business was a true ensemble piece where all the supporting actors were pitch perfect. An easy watch that had me smiling. Also Yeon woo Jin needs to be cast in a lot more shows, he is such a reliable actor!

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Back after a few mths hiatus to remind everyone \’BE KIND\’
Mental health is not a joke and saying a kind word to someone might just save their lives!
K industry wake up!
RIP Song Jae Rim.

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NGNL EP 5
This my friends is how to write a show with all the tropes, silly jokes and yet make it feel poignant and heartfelt.
SM and LSY are pitch perfect and while KYD still needs to work on his expressions he is pretty decent.
The work place is so refreshing and the friendships are genuine.
I love that the FL never finds the need to explain her emotions to anyone.
Looking at how the writing is so self aware I think the hidden chaebol trope might just be turned on its head here.
#betterthanconfusionnextdoor

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Hubby just sent me this.
He knows me so well! 🤣🤣🤣

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    I don’t have a hubby yet 🤭, and my only BF is the 1st one on this list… Yet, god know how many times I have betrayed him in dramaland 😂

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      Ha ha!! I am loyal but do get the roving eye with every new drama🤣🤣🤣

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NGNL EP 4
So many hilarious and heartfelt moments
– Buddha Son Hae Yeong!
-LSY pretending to be an unemployed looser
-The background score when LSY (in his looser avatar) congratulates SM on winning the competition
-yeo biso enjoying popcorn while the boss is being scolded!

While SM was her usual brilliant self, this episode belonged to LSY- his face when he realized Yeo Biso’s friend is the writer 👏👏👏 so many expressions within a few seconds!!
I am so invested in the second leads story!

While the show is filled with Tropes, I am still excited to see what happens next- full credit to the writers and actors! Hoping the show does not go down the ‘hidden Chaebol’ road! Why can’t the ML just be a part timer or a convenience store owner.

PS where do we find a convenience store with such handsome part timers??

#Yeobisoneedshisownshow🤣

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    #Yeobisoneedshisownshow I second this notion.
    I loved this episode SO much.

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    I’m afraid Hidden Chaebol (Son) will be one of the Tropes. But maybe Show will surprise us?

    Secretary Yo is always a fun to watch. 🙂
    (I’m actually surprised how basically everyone in the drama is so enjoyable/interesting.)

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      Secretary Yeo almost stole the show in every scene he’s in.

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        He’s so funny!! The Self-Aware Secretary archetype is doing VERY well in this show!! 😆👏

        Lol about the Hidden Chaebol trope… as soon as someone stepped out of that SUV in front of Ji-uk I actually *gasped* and thought Why didn’t I make that connection sooner?? So kudos to the show for not “revealing” that until episode 4? 😂

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          By now, you should know the rule that Korean drama ML will never be a nobody convenience stall staff.

          The only closest exception is Lee Min-Kim’s character in My Liberation Notes wherein as a convenience chain SOP person, he aspires to become a franchisee.

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No gain no love, has my heart. What a lovely show, perfect blend of humour and heartfelt moments.
The vlog with her non existent boyfriend was so hilarious!
Also lee sang yi, definitely needs a ML role asap. He is awesome
#ShinMinaistheQUEEN!!!!

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    Shin Mi Na is so wholesome. How could she be so adorably cute and not cringey. She is just sparkling by herself. Well heck, she has chemistry with inanimate objects 😍

    Absolutely true about Sang Yi!! That man had me rolling in laughter for straight 5 minutes. His expressions were priceless.

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      Exactly, she is 40 and still aces the aegyo! I love her! 😍😍
      Hoping this show continues to deliver!

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      If I’m not wrong, the second leads of this show have their own show where they are the leads. I don’t know if it’s airing rn on Tving or will air after No gain No love finishes airing.

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        They are getting their own spinoff, where they’ll be the main leads and will have their own romance! It’s scheduled to air sometime in the second half of 2024.

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          Post ep 4 I am so invested in the second leads story! Excited for the spin off!

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      Shin Min-ah is lovely and adorable!!! ❤️ She’s aging like a graceful queen!!

      Lol Lee Sang-yi’s righteous indignation about how the purity of Hangeul has been debased for smutty web novels was HILARIOUS 😂 I love his character!

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    The vlog was so funny! I was in stitches. 😂
    But then… then they added there is no love in your eyes .
    That’s what I call a good writing.

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      Yes!! And you could see the difference. I don’t think anyone but Shin Min-ah could do this role justice. She even pulled off the rebellious college student flashback. And the wisdom she dropped on the judgmental teacher was 😘

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        Oh my, she was STUNNING in that outfit and hairdo… and as the FL, despite her bitterness towards her mom and family situation, she still defended her foster sister. ❤️

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    Sang Yi is the ML of the spinoff series of this show

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No gain no love, is kooky, funny and clever! Oh how I adore Shin Mina!!! She always nails her role.
Love that they show the ML’s as adults and not coy.The second lead and the secretary are so funny, like Tom and Jerry 🤣
Surprisingly I don’t hate KYD in this ( have never been a fan) hoping he manages to keep up with the awesomeness of SH!
On a side note, how does Shin Mina manage to look so amazing at 40???

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Here to give a shout out to Good Partner,
Jung Nara rarely dissapoints and is killing it as the calculative yet practical Cha Eun Kyung. JN always manages to also elicit empathy, such a great actress!
While NJH\’s character is a little too earnest for my liking she is the perfect foil for the JN. Also both leads show growth as the show goes on.
The divorce cases are interesting and the cheating arc is being handled with grace.
The supporting actors are well cast.
Highly recommended.

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Is 2024 the year of old school rom coms??
The year of couples who talk through the misunderstandings, year of zero wrist grabs, year of asking for consent?
Green flag men who are respectful and supportive?
Non toxic second leads? Friendships that support and uplift
Lovely Runner, My Sweet Mobster, Serendipity\’s Embrace, the ML of Marry my Husband Queen of Tears, Dr Slump all mostly wholesome and heart-warmiing.

What has bought about this change? For people with more insights on Korea, is there a shift in sensibilities of the younger generation or are the writers catering to the international kdrama fans?
Whatever it is, I am so in for the ride.
Looking forward to Love Next Door.

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Post LR, MSM I am yet to find my next addictive show, so I went back to rewatching one of my favourites- Where the Weather is Fine.
This was such an underrated gem.
Like having warm cocoa on a cold night, it envelops you in the lives of the close knit community.
Seo kang joo and Park min you were so lovely and understated in their roles of flawed people and the cinematography had me enthralled.
On rewatch this still lived up to my feelings from when I first watched it😊 it truely was a healing drama!

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    I watched this drama a few months ago, when winter was giving way to spring.

    I loved it so much that I included it in my Top Ten list.

    This is exactly the kind of k-dramas I enjoy the most: an interesting setting and many flawed but lovable and believable characters. Good music and cinematography too. And a little bit of “magical realism”.

    This was my second drama starred by Seo Kang Joo and my first Park Min You.

    If you have not watched Racket Boys I think you could love it too (it has some vibes in common with When the weather is fine). I finished it some weeks ago and it’s a gem.

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    This is such a lovely show, so cozy 🥰

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So I just found out Yoon Park and So Jin are the second couple in Cinderella at 2am.
Looks like I have to put aside my dislike of Shin Hyun Bin and watch this show just for the second leads!

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MSM ended being a little show with a big heart. While the writing wasn’t amazing the actors were so lovely that I enjoyed my time watching it.
As a freshly minted fan of UTG, I think they did dirty with his pink tux and white shoes in the proposal scene! The man is so hot they could have just left him in one if those amazing V neck sweaters🤣
Awaiting Love Next Door now, please be good show!

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I just started watching Red Swan and realised Jung Gyu Woo was the ML in the very first Kdrama I watched in 2010.
My obsession with Kdrama started with a random pic ( see below) I came across 10pm at night, which turned out to be a recap of Dr Champ on the dramabeans page.
Intrigued after reading some of the comments on the page, I found the show and binge watched it and that was the the beginning of my journey into the kdrama rabbithole🤣

How did you all start your kdrama journey?

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    By chance I watched a pair of episodes of Memories of Alhambra on Netflix, maybe in 2018 or 2019, I can’t remember when.
    I really liked them but I don’t know why I didn’t watch the whole drama in that moment. Maybe I thought “I’ll watch it later”. It was so weird and funny at the same time…
    So we have to jump in time until Squid Game. I watched that famous drama in November’21, soon after it was released. And then in January’22 I watched It’s okey to not be ok and that was when I fell into the rabbit hole. So after IOTNBO I watched Memories of Alhambra from start to finish and I have not stopped watching Asian dramas since then.

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    After many years (yes!) of not watching entertainment of any kind, I found myself on Netflix one night after a very stressful day, and the recommended drama was Crash Landing on You. I watched the preview, thought it looked interesting enough, and was too tired to scroll further so I clicked play. Four episodes later I was making myself turn off the TV and go to bed hahaha. I was instantly hooked on k-drama and the Korean language. Haven’t looked back. It’s been a wild ride and I’m so happy to have Beanies to share my experience with!

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      So many if my friends got into kdrama after crash landing! The chemistry was so good!

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    I rarely, if ever, watched TV or shows or dramas or movies, other than occasional big screen outings, for years. And the ones I did were mostly crime thrillers and mysteries. Then Covid happened, and I slowly returned to watching stuff (besides teaching myself video editing but I digress). Anyhow, my sister convinced me to watch Hwarang. While I found the show mediocre, I was bowled away by a) looks b) the easy humour and drama. I watched a few more of her rec (including some C and J dramas) and then finally Attorney Woo happened, and I was hooked. But I became addicted after I watched Our Blooming Youth (and my brain became familiar with the concept of a ‘fangirl’ LOL!).

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Serendipity\’s Embrace- I quite enjoyed the first 2 episodes, I think the pacing was quick and story moved along fast.
This isn\’t a ground breaking show and might just be one for mindless watching.
Chae Jeong Hyoep has the most adorable smile!

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    Good thing about an 8 episode show is that they cannot afford to insert fillers.
    Sometimes a good mindless watch is all the pick-me-up one needs.
    A smiling face is always welcome. 😊❤

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